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The Storycatcher
From the author of the “wonderfully crafted” (San Francisco Book Review) Ghost on Black Mountain comes a haunting gothic novel set in the Depression-era South about two young women who form an unlikely alliance when the spirit of a dead woman takes up residence in their home.
Shelly Parker never much liked Faith Dobbins, the uppity way that girl bossed her around. But they had more in common than she knew. Shelly tried to ignore the haints that warned her Faith’s tyrannical father, Pastor Dobbins, was a devil in disguise. But when Faith started acting strange, Shelly couldn’t avoid the past—not anymore.
Critically acclaimed, award-winning author Ann Hite beckons readers back to the Depression-era South, from the saltwater marshes of Georgia’s coast to the whispering winds of North Carolina’s mystical Black Mountain, in a mesmerizing gothic tale about the dark family secrets that come back to haunt us.
Shelly Parker never much liked Faith Dobbins, the uppity way that girl bossed her around. But they had more in common than she knew. Shelly tried to ignore the haints that warned her Faith’s tyrannical father, Pastor Dobbins, was a devil in disguise. But when Faith started acting strange, Shelly couldn’t avoid the past—not anymore.
Critically acclaimed, award-winning author Ann Hite beckons readers back to the Depression-era South, from the saltwater marshes of Georgia’s coast to the whispering winds of North Carolina’s mystical Black Mountain, in a mesmerizing gothic tale about the dark family secrets that come back to haunt us.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2013
31 people are currently reading
5208 people want to read
About the author
Ann Hite
17 books278 followersAnn Hite’s debut novel, Ghost On Black Mountain, not only became a Townsend Prize Finalist but won Georgia Author of the Year in 2012. Her personal essays and short stories have been published in numerous national anthologies. The Storycatcher, her second Black Mountain novel, will be released by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster on September 10th. Lowcountry Spirit, an eBook novella, is available from Pocket Star, also an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Ann is an admitted book junkie with a library of over a thousand books. She lives in Smyrna, Georgia with her husband and daughter, where she allows her Appalachian characters to dictate their stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
July 5, 2016
4 stars: I really liked it despite some niggles; I adore southern gothics, and this is a fabulous example of the breathless, dramatic side of the genre.
The niggles: This book is utterly depressing. There are a lot of characters from different times and places (some of them are dead!), and I found them hard to keep straight at first. There are some references to Hite's other books that I thought were over-prominent here (and unnecessary). The villains in this book are faceless, generic mustache-twirlers as opposed to being fully formed characters (though that kind of works with the theme; see below). Characters have a habit of saying they have a secret or a story but never actually explaining what it is, thus prolonging the plot (but not the tension. Authors, this gets tedious).
What I loved: At its heart, this is a book about the South's culture of sexism and racism. Though the book is set during the depression, this culture continues today, and it's important to read these books, I think, so we don't forget--and so we work for change. White women, black men, and especially black women are all victims of this culture--and in this book. (And it's no coincidence that the villains in this book were white male pastors; even religion supports this toxic culture.)
I loved the individual character voices and their stories. I loved that ghosts interacted with the living on a regular basis, not as haunting spooks, but as real as the living. I loved the interconnectedness of the plots, and the culture of sisterhood that develops to protect each other. I loved the myths and folklore of Black Mountain.
If you enjoy southern gothics or ghost stories, give this a try. But don't expect a happy ending.
The niggles: This book is utterly depressing. There are a lot of characters from different times and places (some of them are dead!), and I found them hard to keep straight at first. There are some references to Hite's other books that I thought were over-prominent here (and unnecessary). The villains in this book are faceless, generic mustache-twirlers as opposed to being fully formed characters (though that kind of works with the theme; see below). Characters have a habit of saying they have a secret or a story but never actually explaining what it is, thus prolonging the plot (but not the tension. Authors, this gets tedious).
What I loved: At its heart, this is a book about the South's culture of sexism and racism. Though the book is set during the depression, this culture continues today, and it's important to read these books, I think, so we don't forget--and so we work for change. White women, black men, and especially black women are all victims of this culture--and in this book. (And it's no coincidence that the villains in this book were white male pastors; even religion supports this toxic culture.)
I loved the individual character voices and their stories. I loved that ghosts interacted with the living on a regular basis, not as haunting spooks, but as real as the living. I loved the interconnectedness of the plots, and the culture of sisterhood that develops to protect each other. I loved the myths and folklore of Black Mountain.
If you enjoy southern gothics or ghost stories, give this a try. But don't expect a happy ending.
January 14, 2014
The first 20% of this book happened and I thought I would probably give up. I was so confused. The story is told from multiple view points and my copy wasn't completely edited correctly (Mine is an advanced copy) I realized that there is another book I should have read first called The Ghost on Black Mountain. I figured what the heck I would keep going.
At 24% I came to this passage..."I read a lot. I can live the rest of my life out alone if I have my books and garden. Both feed me, Shelly. My book nourish my soul. When I open a cover and begin to read, I go to new places, to worlds I never knew existed. I time travel to the past and up into the distant future." The book started changing for me.
I love southern folklore with a passion. This book combines some of my favorite things about it together. Our rich folk history with haints, Granny women and planting by the "signs" as some examples. The main character of this book is a young black girl Shelly. She is stubborn as a mule so I just fell for her. Shelly has the "sight" and a strong case at that. She sees ghosts and spirits in the mountain surrounding her home. One comes to her warning of bad things coming to her home on Black Mountain. The time period is set when blacks were treated horribly in the whole US not just the south. At times this really got to me and I wanted to rage and rant. The thing is..it is part of our history. So we must learn from it as to never repeat it.
The book is completely spooky without being horror. There were several times that I felt a chill crawl up my back and didn't like walking my dog tonight in the dark drizzle. I started this book this morning with low hopes and was very pleasantly surprised to find out that I could not put it down to get into bed on time tonight. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's works.
At 24% I came to this passage..."I read a lot. I can live the rest of my life out alone if I have my books and garden. Both feed me, Shelly. My book nourish my soul. When I open a cover and begin to read, I go to new places, to worlds I never knew existed. I time travel to the past and up into the distant future." The book started changing for me.
I love southern folklore with a passion. This book combines some of my favorite things about it together. Our rich folk history with haints, Granny women and planting by the "signs" as some examples. The main character of this book is a young black girl Shelly. She is stubborn as a mule so I just fell for her. Shelly has the "sight" and a strong case at that. She sees ghosts and spirits in the mountain surrounding her home. One comes to her warning of bad things coming to her home on Black Mountain. The time period is set when blacks were treated horribly in the whole US not just the south. At times this really got to me and I wanted to rage and rant. The thing is..it is part of our history. So we must learn from it as to never repeat it.
The book is completely spooky without being horror. There were several times that I felt a chill crawl up my back and didn't like walking my dog tonight in the dark drizzle. I started this book this morning with low hopes and was very pleasantly surprised to find out that I could not put it down to get into bed on time tonight. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's works.
September 12, 2014
Secrets weren't nothing but untold lies
I don't think I've ever read any ghost stories, but I was captivated by this dark and mystical novel.
First of all I loved the setting - I can't think of a better place for a story about haints/spirits and hoodoo than the atmospheric marshes of the South. I also savored the many different voices and POV's. I thought they were all extremely authentic and distinct. The use of these multiple female narrators (some living, some dead) to tell a story that crosses multiple generations was brilliantly done.
While she refused to believe in mountain magic, I wholeheartedly believed in Miss Tuggle's powers. She called it science. Amanda called hers conjuring. I saw their abilities as freedom from those who would, given the chance, control them.
Although The Storycatcher never outright scared me, it had me feeling uneasy and on edge all the time. I think Pastor Dobbins was part of the reason - he is so evil, but the author's haunting descriptions was probably the main cause.
A darkness with no name or shape hung in the air, something thick and fearful, always threatening in a heavy sort of way.
Lastly, I loved how the author connected all these characters and stories in the end. The Storycatcher is definitely worth the read.
The story: Shelly Parker, a sixteen-year-old servant who works for the tyrannical Pastor Dobbins and his family, has had the gift of sight for as long as she can remember. When the ghost of Arleen Brown, a poor woman who died on the mountain during childbirth five years earlier, begins to pursue the Pastor’s daughter Faith — hell-bent on revealing a terrible secret that she took to her grave — Shelly is the only person that can help her.
September 19, 2013
3.5 I love the idea of a "storycatcher", one who after death will catch our story and make sure it is accurate and complete. These are the kind of little details and folklore that imbue Ann Hite's stories. From the black mountain, to the marshes and sapelo island of North Carolina, we learn about the geechees and their long history of second sight, the world of haints and spells, passed down from generation to generation. This is such a atmospheric world, one full of secrets and out-worldly things to guide one along. Families and stories that have gone wrong and need to be connected. The living, who are truly evil need to be brought to light and punished.
Though I will admit to being a little confused in the beginning, there was quite a bit of back and forth, I finally figured out if I followed Shelley, I knew where I was. She was such a great character, young and questioning, loving and forgiving. All the characters in this novel were fully fleshed and all had their quirks and different abilities, shall we say. Loved all the folklore and the superstitions, and look forward to seeing what type of world this author will bring us next.
Though I will admit to being a little confused in the beginning, there was quite a bit of back and forth, I finally figured out if I followed Shelley, I knew where I was. She was such a great character, young and questioning, loving and forgiving. All the characters in this novel were fully fleshed and all had their quirks and different abilities, shall we say. Loved all the folklore and the superstitions, and look forward to seeing what type of world this author will bring us next.
June 27, 2013
For anyone who has read Ann Hite’s haunting novel GHOST ON BLACK MOUNTAIN, it is no secret that Hite possesses an uncanny talent for crafting deeply moving stories. THE STORYCATCHER is yet another beautiful example of her gifts as a writer. Hite returns to Black Mountain, this time to share the story of two young women whose find themselves unlikely allies when the arrival of a ghost unearths long-held secrets and sends them on a search for dangerous truths.
I didn’t think it was possible that I could be more impressed by Hite’s writing than I was as I read GHOST ON BLACK MOUNTAIN but THE STORYCATCHER took my breath away. Hite’s description of setting and her expert grip on the nuances and lushness of her characters is truly masterful and, best of all, impossible to put down until the last page.
I didn’t think it was possible that I could be more impressed by Hite’s writing than I was as I read GHOST ON BLACK MOUNTAIN but THE STORYCATCHER took my breath away. Hite’s description of setting and her expert grip on the nuances and lushness of her characters is truly masterful and, best of all, impossible to put down until the last page.
August 27, 2018
I read Ghost on Black Mountain years ago and loved it! I’ve always enjoyed the spookiness and mystery of southern folklore and this is every bit of that! Main character Shelly has the “sight” warning her of coming bad things.. a bit creepy huh! Terrible things do happen on the mountain, and she crosses paths with two wrathful haints, one of a missing black girl-1870 and another of a white girl who died in labor-1935 (the present time is 1939). This gothic tale will pull you in to its very last page! 5 ☆
September 27, 2013
My hopes ran high for this book. I was prepared to love it. But, alas, I did not. The plot was very confusing and convoluted. Leaps in time (from the 1800s to the 1930s) were frequent, but there was no transition provided for the reader.
All the female characters talked and acted almost the same, so I found myself flipping pages wondering who was talking and what the plot thread was.
This book borders on the paranormal (there are "haints" or spirits) with magic realism sprinkled throughout. There is a spooky element to the plot, but it was never particularly well developed, and many parts of the story dragged endlessly.
(Thanks to Negalley for providing me with a galley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.)
All the female characters talked and acted almost the same, so I found myself flipping pages wondering who was talking and what the plot thread was.
This book borders on the paranormal (there are "haints" or spirits) with magic realism sprinkled throughout. There is a spooky element to the plot, but it was never particularly well developed, and many parts of the story dragged endlessly.
(Thanks to Negalley for providing me with a galley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.)
March 3, 2020
This book reminded me of Toni Morrisons Jazz, with it's multiple timelines and multiple viewpoints. The microcosm these characters inhabit on a remote mountaintop within the Postbellum American south is as much a character and just as fickle. The comparison with Morrison ends here because none of the women telling their stories seem to be really fleshed out characters. Some of the less, uh, corporeal characters are barely given a motivation beyond spite and indignation. This is stranger still when you consider that each character gets multiple chances to tell her story. Interesting premise but mediocre execution.
September 18, 2013
If it has anything to do with haints, I'm there! Ann Hite's The Storycatcher is the story two young women Shelly Parker(16) and Faith Dobbins(19). Although neither woman much cares for the other, they're common goal is to get rid of the spirit that is following them in hopes that they will reveal her story, her truth. Their ghost wants to help them ward off the evil that is sure to be on it's way to them.
The novel takes place is the Depression-era when beliefs in haints, hoodoo, the gift of sight, and the "touch" are relied upon to communicate with the dead. In this gothic world Hite has created there are spirits every place you turn. These souls stand between two worlds unable to move on until those stories being revealed set them free. The storycatcher is someone who's job is to set life stories straight.
The Storycatcher immediately draws the readers in. Initially I planned to only read the first chapter but Ada Lee Tine and the richly drawn descriptions of the Georgia coast begged me to turn the page. Plus, anyone who can see and speak with the dead is worth giving a chance. Shelly is similar to Ada Lee in being "touched" and able to speak to the dead. Her parts in this novel describe vividly the beauty that is Black Mountain, North Carolina. Although it's not apparent from the beginning how these stories connect, Hite begins to lay down the strings to tie in their converging histories.
Each chapter is narrated by a different voice. And amongst those voices a few are dead. I hope that's not a spoiler alert but c'mon! It's bound to happen. If our heroines can talk to them, why can't we? I am forever grateful to Hite for making the characters speak English well enough to understand. There is nothing more annoying than trudging through a book only half understanding what a person from the 30's is saying. I mention this only because the voices seem distinct enough to me that I could decipher who was speaking although some are less educated than others.
The one thing that really confused me until I started paying closer attention are the timelines. At one point I thought that we were in the present (circa 1939) only to realize mid-chapter that I was reading something from 1859... argh!!! The transistions could have been smoother. That is my only gripe.
The Storycatcher by Ann Hite is definitely a must-read for those who enjoy gothic novels with a lot of paranormal elements and mystery. This is the first novel I've read by Hite and I'm looking forward to reading more. I genuinely loved living in this world of ghosts, storycatchers, body-snatchers, mediums, and hoodoo. Recommended!
The novel takes place is the Depression-era when beliefs in haints, hoodoo, the gift of sight, and the "touch" are relied upon to communicate with the dead. In this gothic world Hite has created there are spirits every place you turn. These souls stand between two worlds unable to move on until those stories being revealed set them free. The storycatcher is someone who's job is to set life stories straight.
The Storycatcher immediately draws the readers in. Initially I planned to only read the first chapter but Ada Lee Tine and the richly drawn descriptions of the Georgia coast begged me to turn the page. Plus, anyone who can see and speak with the dead is worth giving a chance. Shelly is similar to Ada Lee in being "touched" and able to speak to the dead. Her parts in this novel describe vividly the beauty that is Black Mountain, North Carolina. Although it's not apparent from the beginning how these stories connect, Hite begins to lay down the strings to tie in their converging histories.
Each chapter is narrated by a different voice. And amongst those voices a few are dead. I hope that's not a spoiler alert but c'mon! It's bound to happen. If our heroines can talk to them, why can't we? I am forever grateful to Hite for making the characters speak English well enough to understand. There is nothing more annoying than trudging through a book only half understanding what a person from the 30's is saying. I mention this only because the voices seem distinct enough to me that I could decipher who was speaking although some are less educated than others.
The one thing that really confused me until I started paying closer attention are the timelines. At one point I thought that we were in the present (circa 1939) only to realize mid-chapter that I was reading something from 1859... argh!!! The transistions could have been smoother. That is my only gripe.
The Storycatcher by Ann Hite is definitely a must-read for those who enjoy gothic novels with a lot of paranormal elements and mystery. This is the first novel I've read by Hite and I'm looking forward to reading more. I genuinely loved living in this world of ghosts, storycatchers, body-snatchers, mediums, and hoodoo. Recommended!
October 1, 2013
I don't think I have ever anticipated a book as much as I anticipated The Storycatcher. Since reading Ghost on Black Mountain, I have haunted author Ann Hite's page, waiting for a glimpse of the release date of her next story. The Storycatcher did not disappoint. Ann Hite knows just how to weave a story and catch the reader in that wonderful web. With The Storycatcher, we return to Black Mountain in North Carolina where Pastor Charles Dobbins lives his wife and daughter. He spouts the love of God in the community and church, but at home he reigns with terror and hatred. Amanda is the family maid and her story seems to be bound to the Dobbins in a way her daughter, Shelly, can't understand. Shelly also works in the big house but doesn't really care for Faith, the Dobbins spoiled daughter. Shelly was born with "the sight" and as she gets older, those haints that are always around start to demand that she listen to them, that she understand there is evil on this mountain, past and present.
The author takes us from the saltwater marshes of Georgia's coast to the lush mountains of North Carolina with words that transport us right to the time and place. You can smell the salt water. You can smell the lavender growing in Maude's garden. You can hear the ghosts calling from the thick woods. This is the perfect fall time read and a wonderful family of characters that I didn't want to leave.
The author takes us from the saltwater marshes of Georgia's coast to the lush mountains of North Carolina with words that transport us right to the time and place. You can smell the salt water. You can smell the lavender growing in Maude's garden. You can hear the ghosts calling from the thick woods. This is the perfect fall time read and a wonderful family of characters that I didn't want to leave.
dnf
November 8, 2013The gothic aspects of this intrigued me and I had high hopes for this one. I unfortunately did not finish this. My issues with this were the point of view shifts that were occurring before we had an opportunity to fully understand the previous characters. In addition to that the timeline was confusing and unclear. The dialect made it a difficult read and it lacked an authentic feel to it. The character would speak in that southern style, yet when her thoughts would be written they were written normally without the dialect. All in all I think this may have gotten better as it progressed but it didn't manage to hook me enough to want to continue.
June 16, 2013
Ann Hite is a new author to me. I see she has written a few other things, but I'm glad I was given the chance to review an ARC of "The Storycatcher", and become a new fan of her style in writing. I wasn't really sure what to expect at first, because the synopsis didn't leave me with much to go by, but after reading it I too am having trouble summing it up. But I'm gonna give it a try, here goes.
"The Storycatcher" revolves around an array of characters that are living in this small town (which I can't remember the name of), or they are in some way related to this town in the present, or even past. Many of them come to realize their is a mystery to be solved, but each of their stories need to be told and collected for the mystery to come to a conclusive end.
Hite did a wonderful job of creating this town for the reader to delve into. Not only was the town memorable but so were the characters. I love that she chose to add in just a pinch of fantastical elements. . .spirits, or haunts. I'm a large fan of fantasy or paranormal, but it is so many times over done, or very cliche and the stereotypical character, but Hite made sure to stay clear of characterizing her Haunts, but made them their own individual creepy being. I love when I can read a book and get the chills, not "jump out at you chills", but "that's kind of creepy chills". And "The Storycatcher" did just that.
I don't have much to say on the negative side, but if I were to nick pick, I did seem to think the book was a little too long. A few scenes/chapters I look back on and wonder what they added to the story. I feel it could have been condensed down just a little bit, because I seem to loose interest if I'm overwhelmed with useless information. And the only other thing would be that I felt there were too many POVs. I would forget who was talking, or who's perspective it was from, and would have to flip back. But a lot of books have been doing this lately so maybe it's a new trend I'm missing out on.
Don't miss reading the chilling historical fiction tale by Ann Hite, "The Storycatcher".
"The Storycatcher" revolves around an array of characters that are living in this small town (which I can't remember the name of), or they are in some way related to this town in the present, or even past. Many of them come to realize their is a mystery to be solved, but each of their stories need to be told and collected for the mystery to come to a conclusive end.
Hite did a wonderful job of creating this town for the reader to delve into. Not only was the town memorable but so were the characters. I love that she chose to add in just a pinch of fantastical elements. . .spirits, or haunts. I'm a large fan of fantasy or paranormal, but it is so many times over done, or very cliche and the stereotypical character, but Hite made sure to stay clear of characterizing her Haunts, but made them their own individual creepy being. I love when I can read a book and get the chills, not "jump out at you chills", but "that's kind of creepy chills". And "The Storycatcher" did just that.
I don't have much to say on the negative side, but if I were to nick pick, I did seem to think the book was a little too long. A few scenes/chapters I look back on and wonder what they added to the story. I feel it could have been condensed down just a little bit, because I seem to loose interest if I'm overwhelmed with useless information. And the only other thing would be that I felt there were too many POVs. I would forget who was talking, or who's perspective it was from, and would have to flip back. But a lot of books have been doing this lately so maybe it's a new trend I'm missing out on.
Don't miss reading the chilling historical fiction tale by Ann Hite, "The Storycatcher".
September 20, 2015
Some of the writing in this was positively 5 stars. I loved the vivid strokes in this. The author had a way of evoking feelings by the layers she infused between the lines. I love, love that.
Now ghosts and the paranormal is not my thing, but I was still drawn into this. The characters were rich and vivid. They were all different and full of emotion, desire, and purpose. I gave this 4 instead of 5 because of the story. It lagged in some places and sometimes it felt long. I sometimes found myself paying more attention to the writing.
Now ghosts and the paranormal is not my thing, but I was still drawn into this. The characters were rich and vivid. They were all different and full of emotion, desire, and purpose. I gave this 4 instead of 5 because of the story. It lagged in some places and sometimes it felt long. I sometimes found myself paying more attention to the writing.
February 8, 2018
I was a bit disappointed with this book. We kind of got off on the wrong foot and never could repair our fledgling relationship because about eighty pages in I realized, although not a true sequel where you could use those words, but it was the second book containing many previously published characters. I'm pretty adamant about reading my books in order and admittedly this ticked me off a bit. No where on the book or anywhere on Goodreads is this fact revealed plainly. I only figured it out from reading along and feeling I was missing something. Only then did I decide to read a few reviews and confirmed my suspicions were true. Even with that strike against it I tried really hard to keep going and ignore the holes. I can honestly say I "kind of" liked the story but I never quite became enamored with it. Now to even say this is a big leap for me because I truly thought about not discontinuing the book in the very beginning, even well before the book order snafu. I don't think there was anything inherently wrong with the writer's ability. This book just falls into the category of I was not entertained and/or very interested in the tale being told. End of story.
Now this leaves me with a huge conundrum -- do I go back and read Ghost on Black Mountain which contained some of the same characters previous to this or take it off my shelf without reading? Hmm....
True rating is probably a bit below 3 stars but I'll round up because for the most part it is well written. I simply didn't care for it. Perhaps others will enjoy the story and I don't want to judge it unfairly.
Now this leaves me with a huge conundrum -- do I go back and read Ghost on Black Mountain which contained some of the same characters previous to this or take it off my shelf without reading? Hmm....
True rating is probably a bit below 3 stars but I'll round up because for the most part it is well written. I simply didn't care for it. Perhaps others will enjoy the story and I don't want to judge it unfairly.
January 9, 2015
Ann Hite's previous novel, GHOST ON BLACK MOUNTAIN, is one of my favorite books, and I think I enjoyed THE STORYCATCHER, set a few years after the first, even more. The book is told from the point of view of several strong, compelling female characters, some living and some ghosts.
The main character is Shelly Parker, a teenage girl living with her mother, Amanda, on Black Mountain. They work for Pastor Dobbins, his wife, Lydia, and their daughter, Faith. Shelly has the gift of sight, and she can see restless haints all over the mountain. These ghosts were wronged in life, and they need someone to tell their stories so others won't meet their fate.
THE STORYCATCHER is Southern Gothic fiction at its best, complete with dark family secrets, a haunting setting, an eerie murder mystery, enchanting folklore, and complex characters whose stories are pieces of an intricate puzzle. I grew up in the South, but I wasn't familiar with storycatchers, granny women, and death quilts. Now, I know! The big reveal at the end of this book was a jaw-dropper. I did not see that coming. 5 stars!
I listened to most of this book (95%) on audio CD I borrowed from the library. The narrator, Allyson Johnson, was A-MAZING! There were numerous characters in this book, and she captured the essence of each and every one beautifully. THE STORYCATCHER is going on my top three favorite audiobook performances.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The main character is Shelly Parker, a teenage girl living with her mother, Amanda, on Black Mountain. They work for Pastor Dobbins, his wife, Lydia, and their daughter, Faith. Shelly has the gift of sight, and she can see restless haints all over the mountain. These ghosts were wronged in life, and they need someone to tell their stories so others won't meet their fate.
THE STORYCATCHER is Southern Gothic fiction at its best, complete with dark family secrets, a haunting setting, an eerie murder mystery, enchanting folklore, and complex characters whose stories are pieces of an intricate puzzle. I grew up in the South, but I wasn't familiar with storycatchers, granny women, and death quilts. Now, I know! The big reveal at the end of this book was a jaw-dropper. I did not see that coming. 5 stars!
I listened to most of this book (95%) on audio CD I borrowed from the library. The narrator, Allyson Johnson, was A-MAZING! There were numerous characters in this book, and she captured the essence of each and every one beautifully. THE STORYCATCHER is going on my top three favorite audiobook performances.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2013
I received this book as part of the Goodreads FirstReads giveaway.
I normally do not read this genre of story, but I have to say the book surprised me. The short synopsis of the book does not do it justice. Beautifully written with tons of imagery makes the reader feel as if they are in Black Mountain with the characters. You can really picture the setting.
I loved the historical aspect of the book and learning more about the Southern way of life. I found myself deeply engrossed while reading the book. This is not a light read. Much of the writing is very intricate. Once you get used to the flow, it becomes much easier.
My only complaint(if there is any) is that there were so many different POVS in the story that I had a hard time keeping track at first. I had to reread many parts over again and I used the family lines in the beginning of the book to keep track. After the first few pages, it becomes easier and you start to understand how the story progress.
Loved the ending of the book! Left me with chills. Highly recommend!
I normally do not read this genre of story, but I have to say the book surprised me. The short synopsis of the book does not do it justice. Beautifully written with tons of imagery makes the reader feel as if they are in Black Mountain with the characters. You can really picture the setting.
I loved the historical aspect of the book and learning more about the Southern way of life. I found myself deeply engrossed while reading the book. This is not a light read. Much of the writing is very intricate. Once you get used to the flow, it becomes much easier.
My only complaint(if there is any) is that there were so many different POVS in the story that I had a hard time keeping track at first. I had to reread many parts over again and I used the family lines in the beginning of the book to keep track. After the first few pages, it becomes easier and you start to understand how the story progress.
Loved the ending of the book! Left me with chills. Highly recommend!
October 28, 2013
Black Mountain, NC, is one of my favorite small mountain towns, but I didn't expect to find a book set there. In this story, ghosts are everyday occurrences, appearing regularly to women with "the sight," usually but not always descendents of slaves living on the mountain. The female haints hanging around Black Mountain are there for a reason, and one of them is a "storycatcher," with a job to help people finish their stories.
I got a bit confused at times with all the names starting with A, but eventually the story settled in. I felt it was a good capture in time of mountain traditions meeting African influences meeting the control of conservative religion. It also accurately reflects how women were often treated as property in the 19th century, and the ramifications of that kind of view.
(received from NetGalley for an honest review)
I got a bit confused at times with all the names starting with A, but eventually the story settled in. I felt it was a good capture in time of mountain traditions meeting African influences meeting the control of conservative religion. It also accurately reflects how women were often treated as property in the 19th century, and the ramifications of that kind of view.
(received from NetGalley for an honest review)
September 15, 2013
I really liked Ann Hite's first book, Ghost on Black Mountain, and was equally impressed with this one. Once again, there are several characters living on Black Mountain that have secrets. The book goes back and forth between the characters, telling their stories. Shelly is a young black girl that sees ghosts. She isn't afraid of voicing her opinion either. She thinks Faith is a spoiled girl, but eventually grows to like her while working in their neighbors garden. There is of course one person who isn't nice at all, but tries to paint himself as an upstanding citizen--Pastor Dobbins. He has many skeletons in his closet that eventually come out, putting many people at risk.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 10, 2013
I’m amazed by how well written this book is really the writing is what pulled me in. I read it for several hours but it only felt like a few minutes. I was so engrossed in the story I didn't know how long I was actually reading. Lucky for me I went to bed before my alarm went off.
If you like mystery, some magic, a few haints and some really amazing women. This book is for you. There were a few times that I did have to go back to the family tree guides at the beginning and look over to see who and where people fell on the timeline. Really Ann Hite did superb job in writing this book and I felt like I was living on Black Mountain. Definitely a great read!
If you like mystery, some magic, a few haints and some really amazing women. This book is for you. There were a few times that I did have to go back to the family tree guides at the beginning and look over to see who and where people fell on the timeline. Really Ann Hite did superb job in writing this book and I felt like I was living on Black Mountain. Definitely a great read!
January 5, 2014
Quick read, finished book in one sitting, Didn't want to put it down. First time reading the author. Upon finishing I started looking for more of her books. Loved that the book was told from different narratives. The story took unexpected turns as you gained insight into how each story was intertwined. If you like ghost stories and mysteries, I recommend this book.
August 17, 2016
In totality, I enjoyed this book. The good - everything does get wrapped up in a satisfying way. The bad - the transitions between characters are confusing and difficult to follow.
September 3, 2013
I read Ann Hite's book Ghost on Black Mountain recently because of this- 'Nellie Clay married Hobbs Pritchard without even noticing he was a spell conjured into a man, a walking, talking ghost story. But her mama knew. She saw it in her tea leaves: death.'
What can I say except that I have a predilection for stories that involve the paranormal, throw in some spells, curses, disgruntled spirits and you've got me. The problem I have found is that many novels written in this vein tend to verge on the ridiculous so to stumble upon a novel that stays grounded while it dips its toes in the mystical is a rare find. I was happy to discover that I wouldn't have to wait long for more as Ann Hite had written The Storycatcher and I was able to read it thanks to Netgalley. Again she returns to Black Mountain, North Carolina (the reader will also journey to the Georgia marshes) and Shelly (who we met as a young girl in Ghost on Black Mountain) now has a story to herself. You do not have to read Ghost on Black Mountain before you invest in The Storycatcher, but I recommend you do for the sake of it being such a good story.
Shelley now works for the pastor Dobbins and his family, gets entangled once again with haints (the troubled spirits that haunt the mountain ) and has an unwanted bond to the spoiled Pastor's daughter Faith.
This novel, like Ghost on Black Mountain , has enough meat in it to keep any reader fed as it's a bit like a Matryoshka doll made of stories within stories. The haints are hell bent on revenge that ensare everyone until the Pastor meets his fate, with Shelley at the center of it all. This is such a tangled web but one you cannot escape. Both of her novels remain in your head like a fog, but one you don't want to see dissipate. It asks what is wrong with the Pastor, what secrets are living beneath the soil, why is the ghost Armetta Lolly attached to the unsavory Pastor? The mystery is slowly revealed in the shifting voices of all the women (dead and alive).
I didn't expect The Storycatcher to captivate me as much as her first novel, but it did. I'm still stewing in the story telling. I absolutely recommend not just this novel, but Ann Hite period. There is something eerie and beautiful about Black Mountain and Hite is able to create an atmosphere for the reader to visit. I truly hope Hite continues to write stories with haunted characters. Though proof reading this review, I realize my brain is still tangled and foggy. Is there a term like jet lag but for reading? Novel Lag, Book Lag? Whatever it is, I am afflicted...
What can I say except that I have a predilection for stories that involve the paranormal, throw in some spells, curses, disgruntled spirits and you've got me. The problem I have found is that many novels written in this vein tend to verge on the ridiculous so to stumble upon a novel that stays grounded while it dips its toes in the mystical is a rare find. I was happy to discover that I wouldn't have to wait long for more as Ann Hite had written The Storycatcher and I was able to read it thanks to Netgalley. Again she returns to Black Mountain, North Carolina (the reader will also journey to the Georgia marshes) and Shelly (who we met as a young girl in Ghost on Black Mountain) now has a story to herself. You do not have to read Ghost on Black Mountain before you invest in The Storycatcher, but I recommend you do for the sake of it being such a good story.
Shelley now works for the pastor Dobbins and his family, gets entangled once again with haints (the troubled spirits that haunt the mountain ) and has an unwanted bond to the spoiled Pastor's daughter Faith.
This novel, like Ghost on Black Mountain , has enough meat in it to keep any reader fed as it's a bit like a Matryoshka doll made of stories within stories. The haints are hell bent on revenge that ensare everyone until the Pastor meets his fate, with Shelley at the center of it all. This is such a tangled web but one you cannot escape. Both of her novels remain in your head like a fog, but one you don't want to see dissipate. It asks what is wrong with the Pastor, what secrets are living beneath the soil, why is the ghost Armetta Lolly attached to the unsavory Pastor? The mystery is slowly revealed in the shifting voices of all the women (dead and alive).
I didn't expect The Storycatcher to captivate me as much as her first novel, but it did. I'm still stewing in the story telling. I absolutely recommend not just this novel, but Ann Hite period. There is something eerie and beautiful about Black Mountain and Hite is able to create an atmosphere for the reader to visit. I truly hope Hite continues to write stories with haunted characters. Though proof reading this review, I realize my brain is still tangled and foggy. Is there a term like jet lag but for reading? Novel Lag, Book Lag? Whatever it is, I am afflicted...
August 16, 2013
This book review, as well as many more, can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca).
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Gallery, Threshold Pocket Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My Review: I'm a huge paranormal and historical fiction fan so when I saw that this book would incorporate the post-slavery era with a bit of paranormal I thought it would be perfect for me. Unfortunately I found it very hard to get into this book and even harder to rate it.
Let's start with the positives. There is no question that this book is beautifully written. The descriptions of life on Black Mountain, NC to the shores of the Georgian coast were vivid, beautifully described and added to the atmosphere of the book. It also has a very eerie, dark and mystical feel which only added to the compelling mystery.
The story is told from the point of view of several different characters and the story jumps from the 1930's back to the 1800's to tell the story. Unfortunately, these two factors made it difficult to keep up with the plot. I always felt a little confused for the first few paragraphs when a new character began telling her story until I figured out who was talking, what era we were in and what was going on. But, just when my interest started to wane the mystery would pull me back in. This back and forth continued for the entire book.
While many of the female characters tended to blend in with each other (in my mind, at least) the one character who really stood out for me was the very creepy Pastor Dobbins. This guy was a great 'bad guy' and really brought a sinister edge to the book. I also loved how Ms Hite described the spirits, or 'haints', in the book. They weren't just clichéd 'scary ghouls in the cemetery' kind of ghosts but had their own character development and story to tell.
So, in the end, I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere of the book. Unfortunately the build-up of the plot took longer than I was expecting and the use of multiple points of view and eras got in the way with me giving the book a higher rating.
My Rating: 3/5 stars
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Gallery, Threshold Pocket Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My Review: I'm a huge paranormal and historical fiction fan so when I saw that this book would incorporate the post-slavery era with a bit of paranormal I thought it would be perfect for me. Unfortunately I found it very hard to get into this book and even harder to rate it.
Let's start with the positives. There is no question that this book is beautifully written. The descriptions of life on Black Mountain, NC to the shores of the Georgian coast were vivid, beautifully described and added to the atmosphere of the book. It also has a very eerie, dark and mystical feel which only added to the compelling mystery.
The story is told from the point of view of several different characters and the story jumps from the 1930's back to the 1800's to tell the story. Unfortunately, these two factors made it difficult to keep up with the plot. I always felt a little confused for the first few paragraphs when a new character began telling her story until I figured out who was talking, what era we were in and what was going on. But, just when my interest started to wane the mystery would pull me back in. This back and forth continued for the entire book.
While many of the female characters tended to blend in with each other (in my mind, at least) the one character who really stood out for me was the very creepy Pastor Dobbins. This guy was a great 'bad guy' and really brought a sinister edge to the book. I also loved how Ms Hite described the spirits, or 'haints', in the book. They weren't just clichéd 'scary ghouls in the cemetery' kind of ghosts but had their own character development and story to tell.
So, in the end, I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere of the book. Unfortunately the build-up of the plot took longer than I was expecting and the use of multiple points of view and eras got in the way with me giving the book a higher rating.
My Rating: 3/5 stars
September 11, 2013
This book is simply beautifully written. There are so many passages in this novel that literally take your breath away, at times I found myself a bit stunned. The descriptions alone make this a book worth reading, even aside from all of the other great qualities.
One of the things that can ruin a book for me is when the language and the actions of the characters don’t match the time period the book is set in. You don’t have to worry about that with “The Storycatcher.” My favourite thing about this novel was the amazing way the author used the dialogue to bring her characters to life. You could feel their emotions through the words. The way they spoke and the things they did fit perfectly with the period the book describes.
This novel is at times a bit frightening, but not in a horror type of way. The “gift” that the main character is blessed with is often looked upon as more of a curse throughout the story and the natural flow of the writing aided in making it a supernatural experience for the reader. I enjoyed that the author did not give away too much all at once, and saved the resolution of the biggest mystery until the end. This is a difficult story to figure out, and it kept my interest all the way to the last page.
I found it easy to love the main character and her quirkiness. This is the type of character that resonates with the reader and makes you think of them even when the book is finished and you are on to reading the next. Ann Hite has a true gift for telling a compelling story that people want to read and talk about later.
If you like books that are a bit supernatural, well-grounded with excellent writing and are more complex than most, you should pick up a copy of this book for yourself. This would be a great book club read with much to discuss afterward.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher, Gallery Books.
One of the things that can ruin a book for me is when the language and the actions of the characters don’t match the time period the book is set in. You don’t have to worry about that with “The Storycatcher.” My favourite thing about this novel was the amazing way the author used the dialogue to bring her characters to life. You could feel their emotions through the words. The way they spoke and the things they did fit perfectly with the period the book describes.
This novel is at times a bit frightening, but not in a horror type of way. The “gift” that the main character is blessed with is often looked upon as more of a curse throughout the story and the natural flow of the writing aided in making it a supernatural experience for the reader. I enjoyed that the author did not give away too much all at once, and saved the resolution of the biggest mystery until the end. This is a difficult story to figure out, and it kept my interest all the way to the last page.
I found it easy to love the main character and her quirkiness. This is the type of character that resonates with the reader and makes you think of them even when the book is finished and you are on to reading the next. Ann Hite has a true gift for telling a compelling story that people want to read and talk about later.
If you like books that are a bit supernatural, well-grounded with excellent writing and are more complex than most, you should pick up a copy of this book for yourself. This would be a great book club read with much to discuss afterward.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher, Gallery Books.
August 18, 2013
The Storycatcher* is the second novel by award-winning author, Ann Hite, and is a follow-up to her first novel, Ghost on Black Mountain, though it is not a direct sequel. The main character of Storycatcher is Shelley Parker, who played a smaller, albeit important role in Ghost. The story delves further into Shelley’s story and her ability to see and interact with troubled ghosts.
Hite has created a beautifully written cast of solidly vivid and deep characters which inhabit two separate but intricately connected Depression Era settings, Black Mountain in North Carolina, and the saltwater marshes of the Georgia coast. Pastor Dobbins isn’t a likable person. He is controlling and easily agitated. Shelley and her mother work for Pastor Dobbins as maids. Faith Dobbins is the pastor’s daughter. She and Shelley don’t get along too well, and tend to think of each other as snooty in their own ways. But about the same time that different ghosts start showing up to give their cryptic warnings to Shelley, Pastor Dobbins’s behavior starts becoming more erratic and violent. Slowly, his dark past is unraveled and his story is told, which puts Shelley and Faith right in the middle of his path.
The southern gothic storytelling is intoxicating. The only small complaint is that sometimes the timeline gets a bit jumpy and erratic, which might be distracting and confusing for some readers, but everything clears itself up pretty quick each time this happens. Overall, Hite has produced another masterpiece of Appalachian fiction.
Hite has created a beautifully written cast of solidly vivid and deep characters which inhabit two separate but intricately connected Depression Era settings, Black Mountain in North Carolina, and the saltwater marshes of the Georgia coast. Pastor Dobbins isn’t a likable person. He is controlling and easily agitated. Shelley and her mother work for Pastor Dobbins as maids. Faith Dobbins is the pastor’s daughter. She and Shelley don’t get along too well, and tend to think of each other as snooty in their own ways. But about the same time that different ghosts start showing up to give their cryptic warnings to Shelley, Pastor Dobbins’s behavior starts becoming more erratic and violent. Slowly, his dark past is unraveled and his story is told, which puts Shelley and Faith right in the middle of his path.
The southern gothic storytelling is intoxicating. The only small complaint is that sometimes the timeline gets a bit jumpy and erratic, which might be distracting and confusing for some readers, but everything clears itself up pretty quick each time this happens. Overall, Hite has produced another masterpiece of Appalachian fiction.
March 24, 2016
What frustrating characters are in this book! If anyone in this book just finished a thought or said what was on their mind or followed directions or watched out for each other so much would have been avoided. If storms brewing, omens turning up, spirits whispering warnings at every juncture, family members going missing, and lightening nearly striking you down doesn't catch your attention then you must be the stubborn 15 year old. The aged and highly educated, scientific granny doctor takes swifter action when spirits' voices drift by on a breeze than the girl with the gift for being able to see and communicate with haints. Even when she is advised by her own mother, whom she admires for her conjuring, to heed and help the spirits she refuses to budge. For a girl who loves to read and would do anything to get her hands on a book it seems odd that the request to read an old story that could save herself and her family from "something very bad" is a request that she just will not honor. "For heavens sake", I yelled at one point, "read the stinking book!". While I'm on the rant it seemed like the special gift of sight got less and less special. By the end nearly every character could see, hear or feel the spirits.
July 9, 2019
This book floundered horribly. Every character spoke in the same voice... every character was so cliche and bland... the story just wound and wound around untold tales that were never explained. The hype of these untold stories never fulfilled the promise of explanation. Bad decision after bad decision reminded me of watching an '80's horror flick. The implausible decisions made by the characters seems like such a forced way to prolong a story, as though the author never really had anything to say. Sort of like asking a ten-year-old to tell you about a bad dream they had... it just goes on and on and on and never really has a point.
The ghosts had no mystery. Characters stymied one another merely to drag a story along at a slower pace. Once again, like the author was given a word count she had to live up to so line after line of text was written to add bulk.
enough already.
The ghosts had no mystery. Characters stymied one another merely to drag a story along at a slower pace. Once again, like the author was given a word count she had to live up to so line after line of text was written to add bulk.
enough already.
August 17, 2016
DNF at 200 pages, which was a further stretch than I was expecting. The writing style was good, but the story was just a bubbling mess of characters that was difficult to differentiate. We had ghosts and we had the living. Speakers voices became so muddled that I couldn't figure out who was the spirit and who was flesh and blood. I was so confused that I really felt like I hadn't absorbed hardly any events that occurred, leaving me frustrated enough to give up.
July 11, 2013
I'm so glad I received an ARC. This book was one of the most beautifully written books I've read in a while. Hite weaves the different character voices seamlessly. There development is amazing. Those who love to read fluffier books may not enjoy this read because of the layers and the depth the author takes the reader. Me, I enjoy a book with substance.
September 17, 2013
Lovely Southern gothic. At the beginning I found that the numerous narrators made for an emotional disconnect due to jumping around and slowing the pace. Then I let the story take me and it flowed! I thought I was finished BUT the author gave me a beautiful second ending!!!! It grabbed my heart and made me cry (good tears).
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